Habbatus sauda (black seed, Nigella sativa) is a spice and traditional remedy, also sold as capsules and oil. In clinical trials it has led to small drops in blood pressure (about 3 mmHg), fasting blood sugar (about 1 mmol/L), cholesterol and weight, mainly in people with metabolic conditions such as diabetes. Most trials were small and short, and black seed does not replace prescribed medicine. Trials usually used 0.5 to 2 g of powder or 0.5 to 1 g of oil a day. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, people on diabetes or blood pressure medicine or blood thinners, and people with kidney disease should ask a doctor first. This guide covers what studies found, uses for women, doses, side effects and how to choose a product in Malaysia.
Ringkasan: Habbatus Sauda
- Habbatus sauda (jintan hitam, black seed) ialah biji Nigella sativa, dijual sebagai rempah, kapsul dan minyak.
- Kajian klinikal: penurunan kecil pada tekanan darah, gula darah, kolesterol dan berat badan.
- Dos dalam kajian: serbuk 0.5 hingga 2 g sehari atau minyak 0.5 hingga 1 g sehari, biasanya selama 8 hingga 12 minggu. Ini bukan preskripsi.
- Ia tidak menggantikan ubat darah tinggi, kencing manis atau kolesterol.
- Elakkan suplemen atau minyak semasa hamil dan menyusu, kecuali dengan nasihat doktor.
- Tanya doktor dahulu jika anda mengambil ubat kencing manis, ubat darah tinggi, ubat pencair darah atau ada penyakit buah pinggang.
- Pilih produk yang mempunyai nombor MAL daripada NPRA.
Sumber: Musazadeh 2026; Jafari 2025; WebMD; MSKCC; NPRA.
Apa itu habbatus sauda?
Habbatus sauda is the small black seed of Nigella sativa, a flowering plant. It is also called jintan hitam, black seed, black cumin or kalonji. Despite the name “black cumin”, it is a different plant from the cumin (jintan putih) used in curry powder, and it is not black sesame.
The seeds are used whole as a spice, pressed into oil, or ground into powder for capsules. The main active compound in the oil is thymoquinone, which most of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant research focuses on (Rahim 2022). Much of that research was done in the laboratory and in animals, so it does not show what happens in people.
Many Muslims value black seed because a hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari (5688) describes it as containing healing for every disease except death. This article looks at a different question: what clinical trials have measured when people took black seed for specific health problems.
Khasiat habbatus sauda: what trials found
Black seed has been tested in dozens of small trials. A 2025 review pooled 82 trials with 5,026 people and found improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, waist size and an inflammation marker, using doses from 200 mg to 4.6 g a day for 1 to 48 weeks (Jafari 2025). This table shows the size of the effects in other recent reviews:
| What was measured | Average change with black seed, compared with placebo | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure | About 3 mmHg lower systolic and 3 mmHg lower diastolic (31 trials, 2,145 people; Musazadeh 2026) | A small change. The trials were in people with metabolic conditions such as diabetes and obesity |
| Fasting blood sugar | About 1.0 mmol/L lower (18.6 mg/dL; Musazadeh 2026). About 1.2 mmol/L lower in 16 trials in type 2 diabetes (Karimi 2025) | A similar drop was seen in the review limited to type 2 diabetes |
| HbA1c | About 0.4 to 0.6 percentage points lower (Musazadeh 2026; Karimi 2025) | No effect on insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in the 2026 review |
| Cholesterol | Total cholesterol about 0.4 mmol/L lower, LDL about 0.5 mmol/L lower and triglycerides about 0.2 mmol/L lower (50 trials; Hallajzadeh 2020) | HDL (good cholesterol) rose in another review (Rounagh 2024) |
| Weight | About 1.6 kg lower (Musazadeh 2026) to 2.1 kg lower (11 trials; Namazi 2018) | No effect on waist size in the 2026 review |
| Inflammation (CRP) | Lower, but only significant in people with obesity (5 trials; Tavakoly 2019) | Not significant in a larger 2020 review (Hallajzadeh 2020) |
How strong is the evidence? Most of these reviews pool many small trials, and the results varied a lot between studies. The authors of the 2026 review called the improvements modest and asked readers to interpret them cautiously because study quality varied (Musazadeh 2026). Many trials were short, so we know little about the effects over years.
Other uses tested. Small trials have also tested black seed for:
- Asthma: 500 mg of oil twice a day for 4 weeks slightly improved asthma control scores compared with placebo (Koshak 2017). Keep using the inhalers your doctor prescribed; see our guide to asma.
- Allergic rhinitis: a review of 8 studies found more people improved with black seed (He 2024). Our guide to resdung covers proven treatments.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: in 43 women aged 20 to 50, 1 g of oil a day for 2 months lowered disease activity scores and the number of swollen joints (Kheirouri 2016).
Habbatus sauda untuk wanita
Several trials have been done only in women. They are small, so treat them as early findings:
| Condition | What the trial found | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PCOS | 60 women took 1 g of oil a day or placebo for 12 weeks. Fasting sugar and an inflammation marker fell, and the gap between periods shortened. Insulin resistance, LH and testosterone did not change | Jamshidian 2026 |
| PCOS in teenagers | In 114 girls aged around 17, 1 g a day for 16 weeks was compared with medroxyprogesterone, a hormone medicine. Excess hair, ovary size, LH, testosterone and irregular periods improved more with black seed. There was no placebo group | Mahmoudian 2024 |
| Cyclic breast pain | Black seed oil rubbed on the painful area twice a day for 2 months worked as well as diclofenac gel and better than placebo, with no side effects reported (156 women) | Huseini 2016 |
| Menopause and cholesterol | A Malaysian trial at Universiti Putra Malaysia gave 37 menopausal women with high cholesterol 1 g of powder a day or placebo for 2 months. Total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides fell and HDL rose, but the effect faded after they stopped | Ibrahim 2014 |
| Hashimoto’s thyroiditis | 2 g of powder a day for 8 weeks lowered TSH and thyroid antibodies in 40 people aged 22 to 50. Three people in the black seed group stopped because of itching and nausea | Farhangi 2016 |
| Acne | A black seed gel used twice a day for 60 days improved acne severity much more than a placebo gel in 60 patients | Soleymani 2020 |
None of these replace a proper diagnosis. If you have irregular periods or excess hair, see our guide to PCOS and the evidence on inositol for PCOS. If you have breast pain or a lump, read about breast lumps and see a doctor. Thyroid medicine should not be changed without your doctor; our thyroid guide explains the tests. For acne, our acne guide covers treatments with stronger evidence.
Dos habbatus sauda dan cara ambil
There is no official dose. These are the amounts used in trials, not a prescription:
| Form | Daily amount in trials | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| Seed powder in capsules | 0.5 to 2 g (for example 1 g a day in the Malaysian menopause trial) | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Oil in capsules | 0.5 to 1 g, usually as 500 mg capsules | 4 to 12 weeks |
| Oil or gel on the skin | Applied twice a day in breast pain and acne trials | 2 months |
Sources: Ibrahim 2014; Koshak 2017; Jamshidian 2026; Huseini 2016; Soleymani 2020. Across all trials, doses ranged from 200 mg to 4.6 g a day (Jafari 2025).
How to take it. Follow the product label. Do not take more than the label says, because large amounts of the oil may affect the kidneys (WebMD). Before putting the oil on your skin, test a small patch first, as it can cause an allergic rash.
As food. A pinch of seeds sprinkled on bread or used in cooking is a normal part of many diets. The doses in trials are usually much higher than you would eat in food.
Kesan sampingan habbatus sauda
- Stomach upset: nausea and bloating made some people stop taking it in trials (Farhangi 2016).
- Skin allergy: the oil can cause allergic contact dermatitis, a red, itchy rash where it touches the skin (MSKCC). Thymoquinone has been identified as the cause (Kurihara 2020).
- Kidneys: oil at about 2 to 2.5 g a day may affect the kidneys (WebMD). One case of sudden kidney failure linked to black seed has been reported in a person with diabetes (Arslan 2013).
- Bleeding: black seed may slow blood clotting and make bleeding more likely (WebMD).
- Low blood sugar or blood pressure: because it can lower both, it may add to the effect of medicines for diabetes or high blood pressure (WebMD).
Stop taking it and get urgent help if you develop swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, or a widespread rash.
Siapa perlu elak atau tanya doktor dahulu
| Who | Why |
|---|---|
| Pregnant women | Large amounts may slow or stop contractions of the womb; WebMD advises not taking black seed products in pregnancy |
| Breastfeeding women | WebMD advises not taking black seed products while breastfeeding |
| People taking diabetes medicine | Blood sugar may drop further; check your blood sugar more often if your doctor agrees you can take it |
| People taking blood pressure medicine | Blood pressure may drop further (WebMD) |
| People taking blood thinners, or before surgery | It may increase bleeding, and thymoquinone affected warfarin in studies. Stop at least 2 weeks before planned surgery (WebMD; MSKCC) |
| People taking other regular medicine | It may change how the liver breaks down some medicines (MSKCC). Ask your pharmacist |
| People with kidney disease | Large doses may affect the kidneys (WebMD; Arslan 2013); see our guide to kidney disease |
| Children | A 2025 review of trials in children found no major side effects but said safety in children is not established (Abumadini 2025) |
Can black seed replace medicine?
No. The drops in blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol seen in trials are small compared with what these conditions often need. Do not stop or reduce medicine for darah tinggi, kencing manis or kolesterol tinggi on your own.
If you want to add black seed, tell your doctor, keep your appointments and keep checking your readings. That way your doctor can adjust your medicine if your sugar or blood pressure drops further than expected.
Choosing a black seed product in Malaysia
- Check for a MAL number. Black seed products are registered with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), often as traditional products, whose MAL numbers end in T, and sometimes as health supplements, whose numbers end in N. You can search the Ministry of Health’s list of approved products on KKMNOW. Our guide to checking KKM and halal status shows how.
- Registration can be cancelled. In 2019, NPRA cancelled the registration of a black seed oil product and listed methyl salicylate as the reason (NPRA). Check NPRA’s list of cancelled products if you are unsure about a brand.
- Read the label. Check whether it contains seed powder, oil or an extract, and how many milligrams are in each capsule. Mixed products may contain other herbs, honey or vitamins.
- Be careful with big promises. Avoid products claiming to cure diabetes, high blood pressure or every illness. Some slimming products sold in Malaysia have been found to contain banned drugs; see our guide to weight loss supplements.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if:
- you have high blood pressure, high blood sugar or high cholesterol and have not had it checked or treated;
- you take regular medicine and want to start black seed;
- you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning surgery;
- your sugar or blood pressure readings drop lower than usual after starting it;
- you have stomach symptoms, a rash, or changes in how much you pass urine after starting it.
Get urgent help if you develop swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Apa khasiat habbatus sauda (what are the benefits of black seed)?
In clinical trials, black seed has led to small drops in blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and weight, mainly in people with diabetes, high cholesterol or other metabolic conditions (Musazadeh 2026; Hallajzadeh 2020). Small trials have also tested it for asthma, PCOS, breast pain, acne and rheumatoid arthritis. Most studies were small and short, so the effects are modest and not certain.
Adakah habbatus sauda boleh turunkan darah tinggi (does it lower blood pressure)?
Slightly. A 2026 review of 31 trials found systolic pressure fell by about 3 mmHg and diastolic pressure by about 3 mmHg (Musazadeh 2026). That is a small change. It does not replace blood pressure medicine, and you should not stop your medicine without talking to your doctor.
Boleh ke habbatus sauda turunkan gula dalam darah (can it lower blood sugar)?
In trials, fasting blood sugar fell by about 1 mmol/L and HbA1c by about half a percentage point (Musazadeh 2026; Karimi 2025). Because it can lower blood sugar, people taking diabetes medicine should ask their doctor before starting it and check their sugar more often (WebMD). It is not a replacement for diabetes medicine.
Habbatus sauda boleh kuruskan badan ke (does it help with weight loss)?
Only a little. Reviews found an average extra weight loss of about 1.5 to 2 kg compared with placebo, usually over 2 to 3 months (Musazadeh 2026; Namazi 2018). The 2026 review found no effect on waist size. Diet and activity still do most of the work.
Berapa dos habbatus sauda sehari (how much black seed a day)?
There is no official dose. Most trials used 0.5 to 2 g of seed powder a day or 0.5 to 1 g of oil a day, usually as 500 mg capsules, for 8 to 12 weeks. Across all trials, doses ranged from 200 mg to 4.6 g a day (Jafari 2025). Follow the product label, and ask a doctor or pharmacist if you take regular medicine.
Minyak atau kapsul serbuk, mana lebih baik (oil or powder, which is better)?
No form has been proven to be clearly better. One review found the oil lowered fasting blood sugar more than the powder (Askari 2019), but the trials differed in many ways. Choose a registered product and check how much black seed each capsule actually contains.
Boleh ke makan habbatus sauda setiap hari untuk jangka panjang (can I take it every day long term)?
We do not know enough about long-term use. Trials lasted from 1 to 48 weeks, mostly 8 to 12 weeks (Jafari 2025). In a Malaysian trial in menopausal women, cholesterol drifted back towards its earlier level one month after they stopped (Ibrahim 2014). If you want to keep taking it, tell your doctor and have your check-ups as usual.
Ibu mengandung atau menyusu boleh makan habbatus sauda (is it safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding)?
Avoid black seed supplements and oil unless your doctor says otherwise. WebMD advises that pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take black seed products, and notes that large amounts in pregnancy may slow or stop contractions of the womb. This advice is about supplements and oil, not the pinch of seeds sometimes used as a spice in cooking.
Apa kesan sampingan habbatus sauda (what are the side effects)?
Nausea, bloating and itching have caused some people to stop taking it in trials (Farhangi 2016). Putting the oil on the skin can cause an allergic rash; thymoquinone, its main active compound, has been identified as the cause (Kurihara 2020). Large doses of the oil may affect the kidneys (WebMD), and one case of sudden kidney failure has been reported in a person with diabetes (Arslan 2013).
Boleh makan habbatus sauda bersama ubat (can I take it with my medicines)?
Ask your doctor or pharmacist first. Black seed may lower blood sugar and blood pressure, may slow blood clotting, and may change how the liver breaks down some medicines (WebMD; MSKCC). Take extra care with diabetes medicine, blood pressure medicine and blood thinners such as warfarin. Stop it at least 2 weeks before planned surgery (WebMD).
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor or pharmacist. Health supplements and traditional products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Talk to a healthcare professional before starting, stopping or changing any supplement or medicine.
References
- Musazadeh V, et al. The effect of Nigella sativa supplementation on cardiometabolic health in patients with metabolic diseases: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab. 2026;9(2):e70207.
- Jafari A, et al. Does Nigella sativa supplementation improve cardiovascular disease risk factors? A comprehensive GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 82 randomized controlled trials. Pharmacol Res. 2025;219:107882.
- Hallajzadeh J, et al. Effects of Nigella sativa on glycemic control, lipid profiles, and biomarkers of inflammatory and oxidative stress: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Phytother Res. 2020;34(10):2586-2608.
- Karimi M, et al. Effects of black seed (Nigella sativa L.) on cardiometabolic indices in type 2 diabetic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. Complement Ther Med. 2025;90:103174.
- Askari G, et al. Effect of Nigella sativa (black seed) supplementation on glycemic control: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Phytother Res. 2019;33(5):1341-1352.
- Rounagh M, et al. Effects of Nigella sativa supplementation on lipid profiles in adults: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2024;61:168-180.
- Namazi N, et al. The effects of Nigella sativa L. on obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2018;219:173-181.
- Tavakoly R, et al. The effect of Nigella sativa L. supplementation on serum C-reactive protein: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. 2019;45:149-155.
- Ibrahim RM, et al. A randomised controlled trial on hypolipidemic effects of Nigella sativa seeds powder in menopausal women. J Transl Med. 2014;12:82.
- Jamshidian S, Jalilvand F. Nigella sativa (black seed) oil alleviates the serum levels of IL-6 and insulin in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2026;52(8):e70442.
- Mahmoudian A, et al. The possible short-term of Nigella sativa L in the management of adolescent polycystic ovarian syndrome: results of a randomized controlled trial. J Ovarian Res. 2024;17(1):144.
- Huseini HF, et al. Effectiveness of topical Nigella sativa seed oil in the treatment of cyclic mastalgia: a randomized, triple-blind, active, and placebo-controlled clinical trial. Planta Med. 2016;82(4):285-8.
- Farhangi MA, et al. The effects of Nigella sativa on thyroid function, serum VEGF-1, nesfatin-1 and anthropometric features in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016;16(1):471.
- Soleymani S, et al. The effect of a hydrogel made by Nigella sativa L. on acne vulgaris: a randomized double-blind clinical trial. Phytother Res. 2020;34(11):3052-3062.
- Koshak A, et al. Nigella sativa supplementation improves asthma control and biomarkers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Phytother Res. 2017;31(3):403-409.
- He Y, et al. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of Nigella sativa supplementation for allergic rhinitis treatment. Front Pharmacol. 2024;15:1417013.
- Kheirouri S, et al. Immunomodulatory effect of Nigella sativa oil on T lymphocytes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Immunol Invest. 2016;45(4):271-83.
- Kurihara F, et al. Thymoquinone as a causative allergen in Nigella sativa oil contact dermatitis with cross-reactivity to tert-butylhydroquinone. Contact Dermatitis. 2020;83(2):132-134.
- Arslan E, et al. A case study report of acute renal failure associated with Nigella sativa in a diabetic patient. J Integr Med. 2013;11(1):64-6.
- Abumadini MM, et al. Clinical uses of Nigella sativa in pediatrics: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2025;30(5):580-592.
- Rahim MA, et al. A narrative review on various oil extraction methods, encapsulation processes, fatty acid profiles, oxidative stability, and medicinal properties of black seed (Nigella sativa). Foods. 2022;11(18):2826.
- Black seed: health benefits — WebMD
- Nigella sativa — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), About Herbs
- Cancellation of registered complementary and alternative products — National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA)
- Approved pharmaceutical products — KKMNOW, Ministry of Health Malaysia
- Sahih al-Bukhari 5688 — Sunnah.com
